England back into the world top ten - for now

On the up? Capello takes England into the top ten

By Sandy Macaskill

10:33AM BST 04 Jun 2008

Martin O'Neill, the Aston Villa manager, may have described last month's England friendlies with the United States and Trinidad and Tobago as "meaningless", but England's 2-0 and 3-0 victories have returned the nation to the international football gracelands: the Fifa top ten rankings.

England have seen their world ranking drop almost consistently since Sven-Goran Eriksson's departure, but this month the national side climbed two places to ninth, effectively exchanging positions with Portugal.

However, a return to the wilderness is almost inevitable as the three teams directly behind Fabio Capello's side - Holland, Portugal and Romania - have all qualified for Euro 2008.

Steve McClaren inherited the position of fifth in the world in August 2006, and was at the helm when England reached their highest ranking this millennium at number four, behind Brazil, France and Argentina. However, he then presided over the side's subsequent slide out of the top ten, leaving England at twelfth in the rankings when his contract was terminated.

England last graced the top ten in September last year but, as looks likely to happen again, they dropped out after a month.

Meanwhile, Scotland have dropped two places to 17th while Northern Ireland are up two in 32nd, 10 places ahead of the Republic of Ireland, who have fallen one spot. Wales are also down one in 53rd.

Argentina have extended their lead over Brazil at the top of the rankings while world champions Italy, in third, will be the highest-ranked team at the European Championship.